Improvement in propellers for canal-boats



G. G. WYLAND 8L T. M. RATHMELL.

improvement in Propellers for Canal-Boats. 10.114382. Patented May2,1871.

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GEORGE c. wYLANo AND THOMAS M. RATHMELL, OF WILLIAMSPORT,

PENNSYLVANIA. s

Letters Patent No. 114,382, dated May 2, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPELLERS FOR CANAL-BOATS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE G. WYLAND and THQMAs M. RATHMELL, ofWillianisport, in the county of Lycoming and in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPropelling and Guiding Steam Canal-Boats; and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of referencemarked thereon making a part of this specification.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction of apropeller-wheel with detachable blades, and also in an adjustable keeland an adjustable-rudder for canal-boats, as will be hereinafter morefully set. forth. i

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our inventionappcrtains to make and use the same, we'will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referringto the annexed drawing, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of a canal-boat, showing the position ofthe wheel, keel, and rudder when the boat is loaded;

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the position of said parts when theboat is empty; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the propeller-wheel. The first part ofour invention is intended to remedy the ditiiculty heretoforeexperienced by canalboatrnen in getting the boat back'agaiu through thecanal after unloading.

When the boat is loaded the paddle-wheels are totally submerged in thewater, and, as the depth of the water is generally only aboutforty-eight inches, the boat drawing forty-six inches, wheels of morethan about forty-four inches in diameter cannot be used.

When the boat is unloaded there will only be about ten inches of thewheels submerged in the water,

In fig. 1 the boat is represented as being loaded when the wheels arenot provided with these exten: sions, as they are totally submerged inthewater; but when unloaded, as shown in fig. 2, it becomes necessary toattach these extensions to obtain sufficient. power to propel the boat.

The keel of the boat is 'made'in two sections, and D.

The forward section D is entirely removed when the boat is loaded, butwhen unloaded it is attached to the bow of the boat by means of apivoted connccting-bar, a on each side, and its rear end is held by ascrew, 1), as shown'iu fig. 2.

The rearsection 1) of the keel is hinged at its 'front end to the bottomof the boat, or rather this section is attached at its lower edge to abar, d, and thisbar is hinged'at its front end to the bottom of theboat, the section D itself extending upward in a recess formed in thebottom of the boat.

Thebar d extends a suitable distance beyond the rear end of the keel,and the shaft Eis attached to its rear end. 7 This shaft, to which therudder G is attached, passes up through the stern of the boat, and isallowed to turn in the bar d, but not come out of the same.

When the boat is loaded the section D of the keel is drawn up so thatthe entire bottom of the boat will present an unbroken flat surface; butwhen the boat is empty and the additional blades 0 G are attached to thewheels, then the keel I) is lowered and the front section D attached, asalready mentioned.

The object of the front section is to act as a guide and prevent theboat from drifting to the banks or sides of the canal, which isfrequently the case with unloaded boats having no keel; and the objectof the rear section D is to protect thewheels and rudder from thetow-line, which otherwise could notbe pro tected, and also to allow therudderito drop and give a firmer hold in the water. 7

Having thus fully described our invention,

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1.The combination, with a propeller-wheel, of the detachable auxiliaryblades or extensions of blades, substantially for the purposes hereinset forth. 4

2. The combination, with a canal-boat, of the forward-keel I),constructed to be readily attached and detached in the manner and forthe purposesherein set forth. I

3. The adjustable rear keel D, with its bar, (1, constructed andarranged substantially as and for athe purposes herein set forth.

4. The combination, with a canal-boat, of a removjahle keel or sectionof keel forward, and a verticallyadjustable keel or section of keel atthe stern, constructed and arranged substantially as and for thepurposes'herein set forth.

5. The combination, with propellers'O O and kee D, of an adjustablerudder for canal-boat's, made so that it can be raised and lowered atwill, .for the purposes herein set forth.

Witnesses: v

' A. OA'ssmY, ABE-AM DOUGHERTY.

